Fantasy Football: Top 10 Waiver Wire Week 3 Pickups

Dwayne Washington-RB-Detroit Lions (0.3%)

While it may not get the buzz that McKinnon and Whittaker get as they step into bigger roles this week, don’t overlook the Lions backfield situation which also suffered a loss due to injury this week. Ameer Abdullah. Abdullah suffered a sprained foot in the Lions loss to Tennessee and things are starting to look like he may be out for an extended period of time.

While Abdullah is out, the Lions will split duties between Theo Riddick and Dwayne Washington. Since Riddick has already been playing well and grabbing lots of fantasy attention, he’s owned in too many leagues to be in my wavier wire pickups this week. If he’s available, he would be a better pick than Washington, but don’t miss the rookie running back who will also get more work with Abdullah out.

Washington was the 236th pick in last year’s draft after starring at Washington University. He had a monster finish to the preseason to first leap into the fantasy football sleeper picture totaling 104 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in the preseason including a 58-yard run to daylight against the Bills.

In his regular season action, Washington had 31 yards on his four carries against the Titans. He could get double-digit carries against the Packers this week if Abdullah is out, and his role as the team’s short-yardage specialist gives him the inside track for any rushing TDs to be had. He’s still a flier option even with Detroit’s current situation, but he’s worth adding in almost all formats if Abdullah is out for an extended period of time.

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